Kei trucks are not street legal in Oregon for general road use. The Oregon Department of Transportation will not title or register these Japanese mini-trucks as passenger vehicles or trucks because they were not built to U.S. highway safety standards.1Oregon Department of Transportation. Vehicle Types – Section: Kei Vehicles/Mini-Trucks The only current legal on-road pathway is titling the truck as a Class IV all-terrain vehicle, which restricts you to agricultural use at 20 mph or less. A bipartisan bill introduced in the 2025 session, SB 1213, would create a proper registration category for Kei trucks at least 25 years old, but as of early 2026 it has not passed.
Why Standard Registration Is Blocked
Oregon’s vehicle equipment statute requires that equipment on registered vehicles comply with federal safety standards or recognized industry standards at the time of sale.2Oregon Public Law. Oregon Revised Statutes 815.010 – Compliance With Standards for Equipment Kei trucks were built to Japanese standards, not U.S. federal standards, so they fall into a regulatory gap the state hasn’t resolved. It doesn’t matter how cleanly you’ve handled the federal import paperwork or how old the truck is; Oregon simply has no category that fits a Kei truck for general highway use.
This puts Oregon behind many other states, which already allow 25-year-old Kei trucks to be registered for road use once federal importation is complete.
The Class IV ATV Pathway
ODOT will title a Kei truck if it meets Oregon’s definition of a Class IV ATV: a motorized vehicle with four or more tires designed for off-road use, nonstraddle seating, a steering wheel, a dry weight of 3,500 pounds or less, a width of 75 inches or less, and original manufacture for off-road use only.3Oregon Public Law. Oregon Revised Statutes 801.194 – Class III All-Terrain Vehicle and Class IV All-Terrain Vehicle Most Kei trucks weigh around 1,500 to 1,800 pounds and measure roughly 58 inches wide, so they fit the physical criteria.
The problem is what a Class IV title actually lets you do. Oregon limits Class IV ATV highway operation to agricultural use. You can drive one on a public road only when traveling between farm headquarters, fields, or pastures. Even then:
- Your speed cannot exceed 20 miles per hour.
- You must stay as far right as practical.
- You need a lighted headlight, a taillight, and a slow-moving vehicle emblem displayed on the back.
Violating any of these conditions is a Class D traffic violation.4Oregon Public Law. Oregon Revised Statutes 821.191 – Operation of Class I, Class II or Class IV All-Terrain Vehicle on Highway For a rancher hauling feed between pastures, that’s workable. For someone hoping to drive to the hardware store or commute to work, it isn’t a solution.
Safety Equipment Required for Highway Use
A Class IV ATV operated on a highway must have specific safety equipment: a roll bar or enclosed cab, seatbelts for every occupant, a two-pound fire extinguisher, working brakes, a secure fuel tank, and a floor pan that protects the rider’s feet.5Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Types of ATVs Most enclosed-cab Kei trucks already meet several of these requirements out of the factory, but confirm each one against your specific vehicle before assuming compliance.
SB 1213 and What It Would Change
Senate Bill 1213, introduced in Oregon’s 2025 regular session with bipartisan sponsorship, would create a dedicated registration category for Kei trucks defined by size, age, and engine capacity. Owners could register them for a standard fee, and Oregon would join the states that already recognize these vehicles for road use.6Oregon State Legislature. Sen. Broadman Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Legalize On-Road Use of Lightweight, Affordable Utility Vehicles
The bill would keep one meaningful restriction in place: registered Kei trucks could not be driven on highways with posted speed limits above 65 mph. That reflects the mechanical reality of a 660cc engine producing around 63 horsepower. Surface streets, county roads, and most state highways would be fair game; Oregon’s fastest interstate stretches, where the limit reaches 70 mph, would not.
As of early 2026, SB 1213 is still moving through the legislative process and has not been enacted. Anyone weighing a Kei truck purchase based on the prospect of on-road registration should track the bill directly through the Oregon Legislative Information System.7Oregon State Legislature. SB1213 2025 Regular Session
Likely Modifications if the Bill Passes
If SB 1213 becomes law, your Kei truck will still need work to be roadworthy in a U.S. context. Two items sit at the top of the list.
Japanese projector-style headlights are aimed for left-side driving, meaning the low beams angle upward and to the left, straight into the eyes of oncoming U.S. drivers. Replacing the headlight assemblies with DOT-compliant units, or modifying the internal beam cutoff shields, resolves this. DOT-approved headlights carry a “DOT” stamp and three raised aiming dots on the lens.
Japanese-market tires often lack DOT certification. On the 12-inch wheels common to Kei trucks, options are limited; the Yokohama Geolander KT in 145/80R12 is one of the few light-truck tires in that size carrying a DOT marking. Sourcing certified replacements before you need them is worth doing.
Federal Import Comes First
Oregon’s rules only matter once the truck is legally in the country. Federal law prohibits importing motor vehicles that don’t meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, with an exception for vehicles at least 25 years old.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 30112 – Prohibitions on Manufacturing, Selling, and Importing Noncomplying Motor Vehicles and Equipment A 1999 Kei truck became eligible for import in 2024.
At the port of entry you’ll file NHTSA Form HS-7 (checking Box 1 for the 25-year exemption),9National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Importing a Vehicle – Importation and Certification FAQs EPA Form 3520-1 (the emissions exemption kicks in at 21 model years, though EPA may require the original or equivalent engine),10U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Learn About Importing Vehicles and Engines and CBP Form 7501 for the customs entry summary.11U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP Form 7501 – Entry Summary
Budget for the Chicken Tax. The United States imposes a 25 percent tariff on imported light trucks, a levy dating to a 1964 poultry trade dispute, and Kei trucks are classified as light trucks. The 25-year exemption waives safety and emissions requirements; it does nothing for tariff rates. On a $5,000 truck, that’s $1,250 in duty before shipping, broker fees, or port charges.
Insurance Considerations
Even with a legal registration in hand, insurance is its own hurdle. Most major insurers can’t look up a Japanese-market VIN in their systems and will either decline to quote or offer a policy that undervalues the vehicle. Specialty collector insurers such as Hagerty and Grundy are usually the practical option, since they handle JDM vehicles and write agreed-value policies.
The trade-off is usage. Collector policies allow pleasure driving, car shows, club events, and occasional errands, with annual mileage limits typically between 1,000 and 5,000 miles. Commuting and commercial use are generally excluded. For farm use or weekend projects, that fits. For a daily driver, it does not. A collector policy on a Kei truck valued around $10,000 might run $175 to $200 per year, provided you stay within the permitted use.
Where That Leaves You Today
If you already own a Kei truck in Oregon, the Class IV ATV title is your only lawful on-road option, and only within the agricultural-use rules above. If you’re considering buying one for general road use, the honest answer is to wait on SB 1213 or a successor bill before committing. Off-road, private-property, and farm use are unaffected by any of this; the legality question turns entirely on whether the wheels touch a public highway.